Divers have recovered a large fragment of a meteorite that exploded over Russia's southern Chelyabinsk region in February.

The chunk -- weighing an estimated half a ton -- was lifted on October 16 from the bed of Lake Chebarkul in the Urals.

It is the largest fragment of the meteorite to have yet been discovered. The biggest previous fragment weighed 11 kilograms.

Several earlier attempts to lift the massive chunk from the lake bed had failed as it lay 13 meters underwater. The work of the divers was also hampered by thick layers of mud and zero visibility.

The huge meteorite, weighing an estimated 11,000 tons, exploded over the Chelyabinsk region on February 15, injuring some 1,600 people and causing an estimated $3 million in damage. It sparked a media frenzy.